Description

The protest marches followed a 25-hour strike on Wednesday (7 April) by workers in the state-owned gas and electricity sector, which caucused power cuts throughout the country and halted Paris underground trains twice during the day.

Participants in Thursday's marches included actors, cabaret dancers from the Folies Bergeres, stage and film studio technicians and commissioners from the Comedie-Francaise. They staged a 24-hour strike to support claims for improved wages and conditions.

It was part of a week of strikes, slow downs and demonstrations backed by France's two major trade union federations, the communist-led CGT and the left-wing CFDT. Behind the week of action was unrest over continued high rates of inflation, and unemployment, despite government claims that the country's economy was improving.

SYNOPSIS: A deserted gasworks in France, one of many throughout the country closed on Wednesday by strikes.

Workers inn the state-owned gas and electricity sector held the 24-hour strike as part of a week of strikes and demonstrations organised by two major trade union federations -- the CGT and the CFDT. The strike caused power cuts throughout the country and halted Paris underground trains twice.

Power workers were not the only ones on strike. On Thursday, workers in the entertainment industry stopped work, shutting cinemas and theatres throughout France. They were supporting claims for improved wages and working conditions.

Participants in Thursday's strike included actors, stage and film studio technicians, and dancers from the Folies Bergeres.

The strike, as well as closing cinemas and theatres, also threatened television programmes and facilities such as laboratories.

The strikers marched though streets in central Paris as part of their demonstrations for more pay, causing big traffic holdups in the French capital